The Maldives traditional boat is the Dhoni ou Doani, which resembles a dhow, an Arab traditional sailing vessel.
Dhonis can be considered as a symbol of the Maldives and we, at Dreaming of Maldives, love them since the beginning of our story. They are one of the oldest sea vessels in Maldives and can be found all around the archipelago. Nowadays they are still used for fishing and transportation.
Building Dhonis. A cultural heritage that crosses the centuries
Built in Maldives, the construction of dhonis follows ancestral guidelines, transmitted orally from one generation to another.
Raa Atoll hosts most of the shipyards where highly talented and respected carpenters still build them with sometimes no plan.
Dhonis are made of coconut wood
Traditionally made of coconut wood, the Maldives most common tree, trusted for its incorruptibly and solidity, the Dhoni shape was very probably inspired from the ancient Arabian sailing dhow, which was commonly used as a trading ship in Indian Ocean around the 11th Century AD.
Today, for more convenience and speed, the shapes, construction techniques and material have changed through the times and most of the dhonis are equipped with diesel engines and built with imported wood. Their size can vary from 3 to 4 meters (14 ft), the rarest, up to 30 meters (100 ft) and even more.
A modern luxury Dhoni, used as a yachting vessel for a luxury resort in Maldives.
Dhonis have always inspired us many photos
One of the many Dhonis we’ve photographed was chosen in 2005 to be the cover of the First Edition of our book, Dreaming of Maldives.
Since then, a small sailing Dhoni remained as our symbol and logo.
Maldives Dhonis. Our Video Tribute
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Learn more about Dhonis
See more photos of Dhonis
maldives culture & traditions /
Read more
Insider’s Guide to Maldives Culture
Maldives History : In Search of their Pre-Islamic Past
A Photo Tribute to The Dhoni, The Maldivian Traditional Boat
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